The peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, welcomes the Australian Greens’ commitment to free and universal early childhood education and care.
Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC, said the Greens’ investment into developing a dedicated funding model for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) was particularly welcomed.
“The ACCO sector plays a critical role in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to access ECEC. We are pleased to see the Greens acknowledge and plan to better fund and support these services.
“ACCOs extend beyond traditional childcare approaches by fostering connection, accountability, and delivering comprehensive support for children and their extended families, addressing the unique needs of these communities.
“Evidence shows ACCO-led services see high and ongoing engagement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
“Closing the Gap starts with our children so it makes good sense Federal politicians would support ACCOs with sustainable and long-term funding.”
SNAICC also welcomes the Green’s focus on improving access to ECEC services across the country.
“We have long supported government investments into a universal early childhood education and care model to create more equitable and accessible ECEC Services,” Ms Liddle said.
“Working parents are crying out for better access to early education services for their children. Backing-in quality and culturally safe services eases cost-of-living pressures for our families and gives them more opportunity to get into the workforce.
“Access to childcare services in regional and remote areas, where many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families reside, plays a crucial role in early learning and supporting families.
“This becomes even more critical when we consider the entire lifespan of our children. Studies highlight that early childhood education and care interventions play a crucial role in reducing juvenile offending rates.
“The evidence shows an increasing evidence of the link between children entering OOHC and involvement with the juvenile justice system.
“Improved access to culturally safe, high-quality ECEC services will help ensure our children are developmentally ready for big school and have the support they need to thrive.
“We commend the Greens on this bold, long-term reform to ensure children get the best start in life.
“We look forward to the Coalition announcing its plans for early childhood education and care during the election campaign.
“Our children deserve bipartisan support for commitments that allow them to thrive.”
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